Eleven-year-old Zach Feather can't wait to go on his first pheasant hunting trip, especially when he learns his parents have a surprise for hima new bird dog! The family travels across the state from the Cherokee reservation in eastern Oklahoma to hunt pheasant on a relative's ranch. There are more surprisesincluding a rattlesnake encounterin store for Zach on his first hunt. Along the way, he learns that hunting is about more than just finding pheasants. It's also about patience and the things in life that are most importanthunting with his dog and his family.